by lewiselder1 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:21 pm
Death of Sultan Zaafir II Throws Medinese Royals into Chaos
October 4409
Sultan Zaafir II, who around 30 years ago began the Medinese conquest of southern Dovani, establishing an empire and bringing about a war that devastated Medina and eventually brought the royals into asylum in Istapali, died last night aged 68.
In the almost decade long period since, the Medinese royals have existed as honoured guests and something of a celebrity family within Istapali, getting involved in charity work and other helpful pursuits in the country. Prince Wiqar, more commonly known as former Commander of the Medinese Army, Azeez, has even helped to train the next generation of Istapalian generals with the Wiqar Academy right here in Istapali, and briefly served as caretaker Minister of Defence in the coalition crisis just a few short years ago.
Zaafir is ultimately blamed by most for the loss of the war, and for starting it; he even acknowledged it in a confessional memoir, and is generally recognised as being simultaneously one of the most important and influential Sultans in history, and yet also the one to bring about the downfall of the royal family. Zaafir was expected to immediately abdicate, but remained on the throne-in-exile in order to oversee the continuing development and presence of the royals and avoid arguments, regularly chairing family meetings while rarely taking a position himself.
In the last few years however it became clear that he was developing a terminal illness pertaining to his liver and tragically passed away last night, with a full state funeral to be expected in the coming week. His wife sadly passed away only a year ago of natural causes.
In theory, the ‘throne’ should now fall on the head of Zaafir’s eldest child, his son Prince Anura, 40, one of two children. Unfortunately for Anura, it seems that the family has other ideas: while his sister supports him fully, even in their grief the rest of the family is biting at the heels of the throne. The unpopular Raafith, 65, who failed in his Kingship of South Utembo and lost the territory, has counted himself out of any debate and publicly called for peace (thus also ruling out his only daughter, who recently married a prominent Istapalian noble at any rate and is expecting her first child); his younger brother Kaleel, however, who was immensely popular in his imperial territory of Tropica before he lost the throne and was even briefly captured by the New Endralonian forces, appears to disapprove of Anura’s coronation, saying recently that he believed the throne would be better placed on a more experienced royal, perhaps indicating a run himself — with no children, and therefore no heir, however, he seems an unlikely candidate; the most likely seems to be the daring in-law, Prince Wiqar Azeez, who has been rumoured repeatedly to disapprove of his royal extended family’s potential reigns, and rather would like the throne himself.
There is little doubt surrounding Azeez’s ambition or popularity. He’s married to Princess Namira, Zaafir’s only sister, a popular socialite with a great deal of links amongst Medina and Istapali’s high class society alike, and they’re both immensely popular. He’s one of the youngest of the older generations, at just 58, and yet himself also has a son, Aaban, aged 30. He’s long been expected to take up the mantle at some point, and will likely make a play for the throne as the most experienced, beloved royals, a military legend, and a skilled statesman — he’s even expected to want to make a return to Medina! The question is, does Medina still want him, all these years on? And will his siblings let him take the throne — or thrust the nation once again into war?
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I was a mod in classic for a bit, then I helped make Marcapada and WM there for a while. As of 2020 I’m co-ordinating Pachapay’s development.